SARASOTA, Florida – A two-year journey for the Wisconsin women's rowing program ended on Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park with a 14th-place team finish at the 2021 NCAA Rowing Championships.

With limited early-season water time due to COVID-19, the Badgers used a late-season push that included a fourth-place result at the Big Ten championships to earn the program's 13th consecutive NCAA bid. The team continued getting faster all the way through the end.

The Badgers placed 14th in the varsity eight, 12th in the second varsity eight and 17th in the varsity four to earn 55 points. That equaled the point totals of Alabama, Washington State and Duke, but UW's varsity eight finish ahead of WSU and Duke got them 14th place with the tie break.

Badgers finish 14th in NCAA V8

Second place in the C final
(Places 13-18)

1. SMU, 6:31.478
2. Wisconsin, 6:33.822
3. Washington State, 6:35.798
4. Duke, 6:37.250
5. Tennessee, 6:38.956
6. Navy, 6:44.316 pic.twitter.com/ShiPckh7M6

— Wisconsin Rowing (@BadgerRowing) May 30, 2021

Straight from the Lake
Head Coach Bebe Bryans
"This was one of the best team performance I have ever seen at Wisconsin. Every rower in every boat gained a years-worth of experience in three days and proved they were worthy to be racing amongst the best teams in the country. Emma Smith, Charlotte Melcher, Kenna Wilkie, Georgia Norton and Abbey Moore-Knipe, our seniors here racing, have helped elevate our team to a different level and I know the team is ready to start from there next season. 
 
"Congrats to our boatman, Max, for winning the croquet trophy and bringing it back to Wisconsin!"
 

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2021 NCAA Rowing Championships
May 30, 2021
Nathan Benderson Park
Sarasota, Florida
2000 meters

Team Scores
1. Texas, 126; 2. Stanford, 126; 3. Washington, 126; 4. Michigan, 108; 5. Virginia, 106; 6. Ohio State, 104; 7. Rutgers, 96; 8. Brown, 88; 9. California, 83; 10. Syracuse, 69; 11. SMU, 68; 12. Princeton, 67; 13. Alabama, 55; 14. Wisconsin, 55; 15. Washington State, 55; 16. Duke, 55; 17. Tennessee, 36; 18. Navy, 34; 19. Northeastern, 20; 20. Gonzaga, 19; 21. Rhode Island, 14; 22. Marist, 8

V8 C Final (Places 13-18)
1. SMU, 6:31.478; 2. Wisconsin, 6:33.822; 3. Washington State, 6:35.798; 4. Duke, 6:37.250; 5. Tennessee, 6:38.956; 6. Navy, 6:44.316
UW Lineup – Coxswain Emma Smith, Charlotte Melcher, Josefina Laznickova, Hannah Cooper, Brandi Gueths, Oona Lawson, Mackenna Wilkie, Kendra Davis, Susie Bruce

2V8 B Final (Places 7-12)
1. Brown, 6:30.915; 2. SMU, 6:32.107; 3. California, 6:34.013; 4. Rutgers, 6:34.601; 5. Syracuse, 6:40.017; 6. Wisconsin, 6:44.053
UW Lineup – Coxswain Paula Filios, Adrienne Kisting, Lauren O'Connor, Katherine Breen, Masa Brezbradica, Sarah Navin, Abbey Moore-Kneipp, Amanda Triebensee, Ellery Craven

V4 C Final (Places 13-18)
1. Princeton, 7:27.365; 2. Navy, 7:31.681; 3. SMU, 7:32.187; 4. Alabama, 7:32.765; 5. Wisconsin, 7:38.123; 6. Gonzaga, 7:46.105
UW Lineup – Coxswain Georgia Norton, Genevieve Whitehead, Jennifer Haus, Julia DiNapoli, Sky Teegen